Deaerator



Sept. 22, 1942. w. E. STEEN ETAL DEAERATOR Filed Aug. 3, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet l [I2 venia las. William 25729612. Kaffy 6. 'mil'iz.

Sept. 22, 1942. w. E. STEEN ET AL DEAERATOR Filed Aug. 3, 194C 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1942. w. E. STEEN ET AL DEAERATOR Filed Aug. 3,194C 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 i4. 5 6 2 u 4 re? 5 4 4 4 fO @g4 y .L y a M 4 (W fF ,www W .ha .MH

Patented Sept. n, 1942 #amsn OFFICE nEAEnAron William E. Steen and HarryG. Smith. Pasadena, Calif., assignors to Smith Meter Company, LosAngeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 3, 1940,Serial No. 350,910 8 Claims. (Cl. 18S-2.5)

This invention relates to de-aerators, and is more particularlyconcerned with means for eliminating air and vapor entrained in iiuidssuch as petroleum derivatives.

There are many occasions calling for such elimination and these are toowell known to warrant discussion here. However, it may be said that thedevice here shown is useful to particular advantage in connection withthe elimination of air or vapor from gasoline or fuel oil just ahead ofa meter, for it is well undertsood that in the absence of suchelimination, the metering cannot be accurate. It is distinctly to beunderstood, however, that the invention is not limited to thisparticularuse.

The device is of such a nature that it takes into account thepeculiarities of bubble-behavior, it having been found that much of theentrained air is in the form of bubbles which are too small to rise anyappreciable extent while the uid is iiowing with any appreciable speed.On the other hand it is not feasible to provide an eliminator of suchsize that the fluid will be suiliciently quiescent to permit the smallerbubbles to rise to a point from winch they may be exhausted.

Our device takes these considerations into account, being so fashionedthat the small bubbles have to rise only a short distance individually,then intermingling in a manner to form larger bubbles which are capableof following the relatively long path through which certain of them musttravel to reach the top of the fluid body.

How this is done, may be discussed to better advantage in the followingdetailed description, wherein there will also be described a novel valveand actuating means therefor, by which the air gathering at the top ofthe tank is smoothly and evenly discharged lwhen it has gathered in anypredetermined` amount. It involves a plurality of orifices of varyingsize which are sequentially opened as the uid level is depressed by thegathering air.

Generally, it is the object of the invention to provide a simple, sturdyand extremely eiilcient type of de-aerator.

Reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is alongitudinal medial section 'through a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the air-exhaust valve shownin the saine aspect as F1a 13 Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4, with thevalve cap removed and i Fig. 61s a fragmentary plan of the orifice plateof the valve.

Though this is not limitative, the de-aerator is here shown as made upof a horizontally arranged cylindrical tank or housing I0, thecylindrical body portion II being closed at its ends by caps I2 and I3.Inlet I3 and outlet i4 are coaxial with barrel or body member II, thoughit will be noted that outlet I4 is in communication with the lower partof the housing and at a point below the lowermost separator member (tobe described) through an angle pipe I5.

Spaced axially from News? and end wall I2, is a circular, verticitllyriXy ged header or distributor plate I8 which is peripherally welded orotherwise suitably secured to barrel II. Welded or otherwise suitablysecured to the inner face of header I6 are the ends of separator platesI'I, which, at their other ends IB stop short of end wall I3. Theuppermost plate I'Ia is shorter than the other separator plates, itsfree end Ilia being supported by posts I9 extending upwardly from theseparator plate next below. In fact, the upper separating plate ispreferably made in two sections II (Fig. 2) which are spaced apart attheir inner edges at opposite sides of the vertical axial plane of thehousing, the space between sections being indicated at 20.

'I'he free ends of the other separator plates I1 are supported invertically spaced relation by securement to band 2 I as by welding, theband also being welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner faceof barrel Il.

Preferably, the separator plates incline oppositely and upwardly fromthe points at which they intersect the vertical axial plane of barrelil, thus being given shallow, trough-like characteristics as viewed incross section (Fig. 2). The side edges 22 of separator plates I1throughout their longitudinal extent are spaced from barrel II, thespaces as so defined being indicated at 23.

'Header I6 is provided with distributor apertures 24, these aperturesbeing arrangedin rows immediately below each separator plate,itfollowing that liquid within space S (defined between end I2 andheader I6) will beadmitted to the interior of barrel II at pointsimmediately beneath theindividual separator plates and air bubblescontained therein will, in large part, be delivered immediately beneaththose separator plates. The apertures may either 'be in single rows. asshown in connection with the two lower and the top separator plates(Fig. 2) or they may be in double rows, with the individual aperturesstaggered, as shown in connection with the other separator plates, butin any event it is highly desirable that they be quite closely adjacentthe under sides of the separator plates. The aggregate cross-sectionalarea of apertures 24 is preferably slightly larger than thecrosssectional area of inlet I3.

A drainage opening 25 through header I6 puts space S in communicationwith the lower part of the m-ain chamber or compartment C, as defined bybarrel II which, in turn, may be drained by removing plug 26; while anaperture 21 through header I6 puts the upper end of space or chamber Sinto communication with the interior of the barrel at a point aboveseparator plate I1a, so air gathering at the top of space S may bedischarged `to the top of the chamber C and be exhausted therefrom inthe manner to be described.

The free ends of separator plates I1 are slotted as at 28 to accommodatethe well 29, which is in the form of a vertically arranged cylinderperipherally secured at its upper end to the outer face of barrel II.The interior of Well 29 is put into communication with chamber C throughside wall openings 38 and openings 3l in bottom wall 32. Welded to theunder side of the separator plates are downwardly extending baiiies 33,these baiiles being arranged in wedge-shaped form as viewed in plan,with the point 34 of the wedge pointing towards header I6. They arelocated so the ends of their legs are near the free ends of theseparator plates while points 34 are approximately mid-way of the lengthof barrel II, though as shown in Fig. 1 the bales may vary inlongitudinal extent. On the other hand, the baiiles 33', applied to theunder side of separator plate sections I1', are preferably t much closerto header I6, but auxiliary baies 35 at the free ends of sections I1'are more nearly in line with baies 33.- Bafiles 33 and 33' mayconveniently be in the form of angle irons welded to the under side ofthe separator plates.

As liquid enters chamber S, it is distributed through apertures 24 tochamber C along the under sides of separator plates I1. The bubbles inthe spaces between separator plates will be delivered mostly -directlyto the under 'side of f those separator plates,.but in any event, theyhave but a very short distance to rise before striking. the separatorplate next above. The smaller bubbles tendv to gather on the under sideof the separator plates and form, together, larger bubbles. In theircontinued tendency to rise, the bubbles roll upwardly and radiallyoutward along the under, inclined surfaces of the separator platestoward spaces 23, They pass upwardly through these spaces to the top ofchamber C where they break-surface, thus forming lan air or gas body ontop the liquid body. The baiiles 33 tend to prevent the bubbles alongthe under face of the separator plates from reaching a point in linewith the orifice I of outlet pipe I5, but rather guide those bubblesradially outward toward spaces 23. Orifice I5 is thus disposed at alevel anda longitudinal location where the liquid will have been fullydeaerated, the outlet flow thus being in a condition to be accuratelymetered, if that be the next step in the handling of the liquid.

It will be seen that as the formerly entrained air or vapor is releasedto.' form an air or vapor body on top the liquid body, the liquid levelwill be slowly depressed, and it therefore becomes necessary that theair or vapor body be exhausted when it reaches predeterminedproportions. We have devised a particularly efficient valve for thispurpose.

Attached to ange 49 which surrounds and is applied to the upper end ofwell 29 where it extends outside barrel II, is a. valve housingl chamberC, the iiuid being admitted to the well through openings 3I. Air withinthe top of chamber C is free to enter the top of the wel] and hence thedome through openings 36.

Base portion 42 has an internal boss 48 through which extends theexhaust or relief outlet passage 49, this passage opening to ahorizontally disposed orifice 50, which orifice is also horizontallyelongated as shown in Fig. 6. The orifice opens to the upper boss-face5I, an orifice plate 52 being bolted thereto at 53, there preferably,however, being interposed an extension of gasket 46.

Plate 52 has three orifices 54, 55 and 56, of progressively increaseddiameter, raised seats 51, 58 and 59 being provided about the`respective orifices.

Upstanding yfrom plate 52 are apertured bosses 66 which support shaft6I, the latter extending in parallel relation to orifice 50, as viewedin plan (Fig. 6). 'I'he shaft is pinned against rotation at 62, whilemounted for individual rotation thereon are valve members 63, 64 and6-5, adapted to coact, respectively, with seats 51, I56 and 59. Thesevalve members are of identical construction so but one need be describedin detail. Referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that valve member 65 isof angular form, one arm being represented by cup 66 supporting diskstopper 61 in overlying relation with seat 59, a follower .button 68 andpin 69 serving to 'hold the stopper disk 61 against dislodgment from cup66 but allowing it suicient freedom of movement to be self-adjusting tothe seat.

Arm 10 of `member 6-5 extends upwardly from shaft 6I and has ahorizontal extension 1I to take the upper end of spring 12, the lowerend of that spring lbeing' bottomed in recess 13. It will ibe seen thatpush-spring 12 tends always to rotate member 65 in a clockwisedirection, as iviewed in Fig. 4, and thus to hold the valve Iclosed.'I'he other valves are mounted in the same manner and have similarsprings for urging them constantly toward closed position.

Mounted for oscillation on shaft 14 is a bellcrank 15, it being notedthat shaft 14 is supported .by the upright brackets 16 on the internalflange 11 of base 42. The long arm 18 of crank 15 is pivotally connectedat 19 to rod 80, the latter carrying at its lower end the cylindricfloat F (preferably a hollow metal cylinder). The float may be guided inits vertical movement by a depending, coaxial pin 8| which extendsthrough guide-bore 82 in well-bottom 32.

The two relatively short, integral arms 83 of bell-crank 15 arepivotally connected by shaft 84 with the two arms 65 of valve-pusher 86,this pusher having a cross-head 81 which lies parallel to shaft 8|. andshaft 89, the latter being cnixialdwithV and carried by cross-head 81.The linksguidev the -Iorward end o1' member 88 in its movement vas setup by oscillation of bell-crank 15.

'Ilfiecross-head carries actuating lugs' 90, 9| and 82 which are ofprogressively increased length and are vopposed to the'arms 10 ofmembers 65, Gland 63, respectively.

In Figs. 7l and 4, the valve and float are shown in the positions theyoccupy when there is no need for exhausting air from chamber C, thefluid level lbeing sufficiently high to carry float F at an elevationwhere, through bell-crank 15, the cross head-81 is clear of valve-arms10, and therefore the valve springs hold the valves closed. However,when the fluid level in chamber C is depressed by an accumulation of airat the top of that chamber, the float descends, rotating bell-crank in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, and thrusting pusher86 to the left, -as viewed in lthat figure. Due to the clearance betweenthe distal `end of the pusher and the valve members, there is a range offloatrise and fall where there will be no valve actuation. However, assoon as the float drops sufciently to thrust pusher 86 to the leftan.extent which engages the long arm 92 .with the arm 10 of valve 63,any further descension of the float acts through the pusher and arm 92to rotate valve 6,3 against its spring and to open position, thusallowing the air within dome 41 to exhaust through outlet 49. Furtherdescension of the float will successively bring arms 9| and 90, onpusher 86, into contact -with their respective valves 64 and 85 and thussuccessively open those valves. l

It will -be noted that the valve and pusher arrangement is such that thesmallest orice will be first opened, then the next larger orifice, andfinally the largest orice, this giving a smooth even opening instead ofa sudden popofl. And also, in spite of the fact that the ultimate,aggregate exhaustv opening is relatively large and the total, aggregatevalve-stopper area is likewise large, this arrangement permits thevalve, taken as a whole, to b opened very easily and with theapplication of relatively little force (represented by the weight of thefloat) in spite of the fact that the valves may be opening againstrelatively large pressure.

As the air is exhausted from the dome 41 and the top of chamber C, thefluid level in that chamber rises, causing a coincident rising of thefloat and the swinging of bell-crank 15 in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 4, -withdrawing pusher 86 to the right, and thus allowingvalves 65, 64 and B3 to close in sequence under the action of theirsprings.

Various changes in design, structure `and arrangement may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a de-aerator for liquid flow lines, a housing, a header plateextending across the housing and spaced from one end wall thereof, therebeing a fluid inlet opening to the'space between end wall and header, aplurality of vertically spaced separator plates extending Isubstantiallyhorizontally from said header toward the other end of the housing, therebeing apertures through the header immediately below each separatorplate, the side edges of the separator plates being spaced from th'eside wall of the housing whereby air or vapor bubbles may pass betweenLinks 88 pivotally connect shaft' 8|- the side wall and edges to the topof the houslng, mean-s for exhaustingthe lair `.o1-,vapor from the topIjof Vrthe jhousin'g.' :and there being" a, fluid outlet near the otherend of thec housing. f

2.' In a deaerator for liquid flow linesfa housing, a headerplate'extending across ythe'hous- .ing and spaced from one end wallthereof, there being a fluid inlet opening tothe space'between endwalland header,` a plurality of vertically spaced v,separator platesextendingsubstantially horizontally fromfsaid header toward the otherendl of the housing, there beings, row of n apertures through the headerimmediatelybelow each separator plate and extending from side to sidethereof, the side edges of the separator plates being spaced from theside wall of the housing whereby air or vaporbubbles may pass betweenthe side wall and edges to the top of the housing, means for exhaustingthe air or vapor from the top of the housing, and there beingv a uidoutlet near the other end of the housing.

3. In a de-aerator for liquid flow lines, a housing, a header plateextending across the housing and spaced from one end wall thereof, therebeing a fluid inlet opening to the space between end wall and header, aplurality of vertically spaced separator plates extending substantiallyhorizontally from said header' toward the other end of the housing,there being apertures through the header immediately below eachseparator plate, the side edges of the separator plate being spaced fromthe side wall of the housing whereby air or vapor bubbles may passbetween the side wall and edges to the top of the housing, means forexhausting the air or vapor from the top of the housing, and there beinga fluid outlet duct near the other end of the housing, the inner end ofthe duct being located near the bottom of the housing and the outer endof the duct opening to the outside of th'e housing of a higher level.

4. In a, de-aerator for liquid flow lines, a housing, a header plateextending across the housing and spaced from one end wall thereof, therebeing a iiuid inlet opening to the space between end wall and header, aplurality of vertically spaced separator plates extending substantiallyhorizontally from said header toward the other end of the housing, therebeing apertures through the header immediately below each separatorplate, the side edges of the separator plates being spaced from the sidewall of thel housing whereby air or vapor bubbles may pass between theside wall and edges to the top of the housing, downwardly extendingbailles on said separator plates and spaced longitudinally thereof fromthe header, means for exhausting the air or vapor from the top of thehousing, and there being a fluid outlet near the other end of thehousing.

5. In a de-aerator for liquid flow lines, a housing, a header plateextending across the housing and spaced from one end wall thereof, therebeing a fluid inlet opening to the space between end wall and header, aplurality of vertically spaced separator plates extending substantiallyhorizontally from said header toward the other end of the housing, therebeing apertures through the header immediately below each' separatorplate, the side edges of the separator plates being spaced from the sidewall of the housing whereby air or vapor bubbles may pass between theside Wall and edges to the-top of the housing, downwardly extendingbailies on said separator plates and spaced longitudinally thereof fromthe header, said bames extending from side to side of their respectiveseparator plates, means for exhausting the air or vapor from the top ofthe housing, and there being a iluid outlet near the other end of thehousing.

6. In a de-aerator for liquid ilow lines, a housing, a header plateextending across the housing and spaced from one end wall thereof, therebeing a iluid inlet opening to the space between end wall and header, aplurality of vertically spaced separator plates extending substantiallyhorizontally from said header toward the other end of the housing, saidseparator plates having portions, at least, inclining upwardly towardthe side wall of the housing, there being apertures through the headerimmediately below each separator plate, the side edges of the separatorplates being spaced from the side wall of the h'ousing whereby air orvapor bubbles may pass between the side wall and edges to the top of thehousing, means for exhausting the air or vapor from the top of thehousing, and there being a uid outlet near the other end of the housing.

7. In a de-aerator for liquid flow lines, a housing, a header plateextending across the housing and spaced from one end wall thereof, therebeiing a fluid inlet opening to the space between end wall and header, aplurality of vertically spaced separator plates extending substantiallyhorizontally from said header toward the other end of the housing, therebeing apertures through the header immediately below each separatorplate, the side edges of the separator plates being spaced `from theside wall of the housing whereby air or vapor bubbles may pass betweenthe side wall and edges to the top of the housing. downwardly extendingbaihes on said separator plates and spaced longitudinally thereof fromthe header. saidbailles extending from 4side to side of their respectiveseparator plates,

and angling outwardly with respect to the separator plates andrearwardly with respect to the header, means for exhausting the air orvapor from the top'of the housing, and there being a fluid outlet nearthe other end of th'e housing.

8. In a de-aerator for liquid ow lines. a housing, a header plateextending across the housing and spaced from one end wall thereof, therebeing a fluid inlet opening to the space between end wall and header. aplurality of vertically ,spaced separator plates extending substantiallyhorizontally from said header toward the other end oi the housing, saidseparator plates inclining upwardly and outwardly from each' side oftheir longitudinal center lines, there being apertures through theheader immediately below each separator plate, the side edges of theseparator plates being spaced from the side walLof the housing wherebyair or vapor bubbles may pass between the side wallfand edges to the topof the housing, means for exhausting the air or vapor from the top ofthe housing, and there being a fluid outlet near the other end of thehousing.

WILLIAM E. STEEN HARRY SMITH.

